RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever e comparar a estrutura das unidades de terapia intensiva argentinas que responderam ao inquérito de autoavaliação de unidades de terapia intensiva desenvolvido pela Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal observacional com uso de um inquérito voluntário online por meio do banco de dados de membros da Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva e outras publicações em mídias sociais. Foram analisadas as respostas recebidas entre dezembro de 2018 e julho de 2020. Foram utilizados testes não paramétricos e estatística descritiva. Resultados: Foram recebidos 392 inquéritos, sendo 244 considerados para a análise. Eram de unidades de terapia intensiva adulto 77% (187/244), e 23% (57/244) eram de unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica. A taxa de participação foi de 76%. A amostra incluiu 2.567 leitos de unidades de terapia intensiva (1.981 adulto e 586 pediátrica). Observamos nítida concentração de unidades de terapia intensiva nas regiões Centro e Buenos Aires, Argentina. A mediana de leitos foi de dez (intervalo interquartil 7 - 15). A mediana de monitores multiparamétricos, ventiladores mecânicos e oxímetros de pulso foi de um por leito, sem diferenças regionais ou de tipo de unidade de terapia intensiva (adulto ou pediátrica). Embora nossa amostra tenha evidenciado que as unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica apresentaram proporção de ventilação mecânica/leito maior do que as unidades de terapia intensiva adulto, esse achado não foi linearmente correlacionado. Conclusão: A Argentina tem concentração notável de leitos de cuidados intensivos e complexidade estrutural superior nas regiões de Buenos Aires e Centro, tanto de unidades de terapia intensiva adulto quanto pediátrica. Além disso, observou-se ausência de dados precisos informados sobre a estrutura e os recursos de unidades de terapia intensiva. São necessárias mais opções de melhoria para alocar os recursos de unidades de terapia intensiva nos níveis institucional e regional.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe and compare the structure of Argentinean intensive care units that completed the “self-assessment survey of intensive care units” developed by the Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva. Methods: An observational crosssectional study was conducted using an online voluntary survey through the Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva member database and other social media postings. Answers received between December 2018 and July 2020 were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used. Results: A total of 392 surveys were received, and 244 were considered for the analysis. Seventy-seven percent (187/244) belonged to adult intensive care units, and 23% (57/244) belonged to pediatric intensive care units. The overall completion rate was 76%. The sample included 2,567 ICU beds (adult: 1,981; pediatric: 586). We observed a clear concentration of intensive care units in the Central and Buenos Aires regions of Argentina. The median number of beds was 10 (interquartile range 7 - 15). The median numbers of multiparameter monitors, mechanical ventilators, and pulse oximeters were 1 per bed with no regional or intensive care unit type differences (adult versus pediatric). Although our sample showed that the pediatric intensive care units had a higher mechanical ventilation/bed ratio than the adult intensive care units, this finding was not linearly correlated. Conclusion: Argentina has a notable concentration of critical care beds and better structural complexity in the Buenos Aires and Centro regions for both adult and pediatric intensive care units. In addition, a lack of accurate data reported from the intensive care unit structure and resources was observed. Further improvement opportunities are required to allocate intensive care unit resources at the institutional and regional levels.

This document aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to estimate the personal protective equipments (PPE), medical devices, and drugs commonly used in the Intensive Care Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic literature review and gray literature assessment was performed, and the evidence was categorized using the GRADE methodology. Then a predictive model was built to support the estimation of resources needed during 30 days of the pandemic. In the development of these recommendations, 33 publications were included, with variable quality of evidence (low to very low quality). They refer to the use of PPE according to the risk of exposure; management and reuse of PPE, and the stock of drugs and medical devices needed for the care of patients with COVID-19. It is important to remark the difficult in estimating and managing the number of essential supplies and equipment required during a pandemic. The model allowed us to predict the resources required to provide critical care during 30 days of pandemic activity. Given the constant evolution of COVID-19, these recommendations might change as evidence evolves.

El presente documento tiene como fin proporcionar recomendaciones basadas en la evidencia para estimar los equipos de proteccion personal (EPP), los dispositivos médicos y los medicamentos comúnmente utilizados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de la literatura y evaluación de la literatura gris. La evidencia se clasificó utilizando la metodología GRADE. Luego, se construyó un modelo predictivo para apoyar la estimación de recursos durante 30 días de la pandemia. En el desarrollo de estas recomendaciones se incluyeron 33 publicaciones con calidad de evidencia variable (calidad baja a muy baja), acerca del uso de EPP según el riesgo de exposición; manejo y re-uso de EPP, y las necesidades de fármacos y dispositivos médicos para la atención de pacientes con COVID-19. Es destacable lo difícil que resulta estimar y administrar la cantidad de suministros y equipos esenciales necesarios durante una pandemia. El modelo nos permitió predecir los recursos necesarios para proporcionar cuidados críticos durante 30 días de actividad pandémica. Dada la evolución constante de COVID-19, estas recomendaciones pueden cambiar a medida que evolucione la evidencia.

The high incidence of infections of the external ventricular drainages (0-45%) represents a serious problem for patients and institutions not only in the medical aspects, but also in the economic and legal ones. We believe that the systematic and multidisciplinary application of guides is of great value for the prevention of infections. Based on the controversial points, a group comprised by neurosurgeons, intensive care physicians, intensive care nurses, infectologists and the hospital infections committee, discussed these issue and wrote the recommendations.

La alta incidencia de infección en los drenajes ventriculares externos (0-45%) representa un serio problema para los pacientes y las instituciones no sólo en el aspecto médico sino también en el económico y legal. Consideramos que la sistematización y la aplicación multidisciplinaria de guías de manejo son de gran importancia para la prevención de la infección. Por lo cual se debatieron los puntos de controversia en un grupo interdisciplinario constituido por especialistas en neurocirugía, terapia intensiva e infectología, enfermeros de terapia intensiva y el comité de infecciones, realizando por consenso las recomendaciones.